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Sonnier Family History

Sonnier Surname Meaning

Altered form of French Saulnier an occupational name for an extractor or seller of salt.

French: occupational name for a bell-ringer Old French sonnier (from Late Latin sonarius an agent derivative of sonare ‘to ring’).

Compare Sonier.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Sonnier family from?

You can see how Sonnier families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sonnier family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1861 and 1920. The most Sonnier families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 14 Sonnier families living in Lancashire. This was about 70% of all the recorded Sonnier's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Sonnier families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sonnier surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Sonnier ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Sonnier. 33% of Sonnier men worked as a Farmer and 23% of Sonnier women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sonnier were Truck Driver and Cook.

View Census Data for Sonnier | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    33%
  • Laborer
    31%
  • Farm Laborer
    6%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    23%
  • Housework
    14%
  • Waitress
    11%
  • Cook
    7%

What Sonnier family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Sonnier. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sonnier census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sonnier

Passenger Lists

There are 240 immigration records available for the last name Sonnier. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Sonnier immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Sonnier. For the veterans among your Sonnier ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sonnier military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sonnier family history

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What is the average Sonnier lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Sonnier life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Sonnier in 1944 was 22, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sonnier

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sonnier ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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